My grandmother Essay Example

My grandmother Essay My grandmother and grandfather have kept a small group of extremely close friends, which she has found to be very rewarding as a social support group. The hardest part of getting older that my grandmother has found is seeing many of their close friends leave for the great social circle in the sky as she put it, but she found that working hard at keeping those who were important to her close to her was incredibly rewarding. The close friendships she maintained were the best support she ever found throughout her life. Friends that she kept close had many of the same values she did, or values she admired and aspired to obtain. Social support has also come from her family, a value that she obtained at an early age living with so many close relatives. Her entire family, two children, son and daughter-in laws and grandchildren all keep very close ties and provide frequent visits, phone calls, and e-mails to make sure that she is doing well. Although she a world-renowned writer and one would think her pride would lie mostly with her career, it is a true showcase of my grandmothers character that out of everything in life she is proudest of her children. She is especially proud of her son (my father) Joseph who is an incredible parent to his two children. Being a parent has been an unparalleled and most rewarding experience, and she takes great pride in her children and grandchildren as well. Secondly, she is most proud of her wonderful 56-year relationship with my grandfather and the strength of their marriage. Taking a back seat to family and friendship, my grandmother is also very proud of the National Book Award that she won in 2000 for her book Homeless Bird. The award was an exciting validation of a continuing career in childrens literature. We will write a custom essay sample on My grandmother specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on My grandmother specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on My grandmother specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The most prominent aspect of my grandmothers life has been her faith. Beginning when she was young, she was impressed and influenced by her fathers faith and hope throughout the Great Depression. All of her decision-making has been guided by the hand of God, and she feels that her faith really formed her. She believes that choices we make and the path we chose are all part of Gods plan for us, mistakes and lessons are learned and we are so often blessed with that which we might not deserve to help us see his guiding hand. Her great faith has helped her realize the incredible benefits of aging; the on-going quest and acquiring of knowledge is a truly spiritual and nearly inconceivable process. As one grows older they gain massive quantities of life experience to draw on and become more cognizant of their faults, often utilizing the looking glass self which allows others to reveal their failings to them. Aging, my grandmother has found, ultimately leads to a greater sense of identity and self. My grandmother is truly the picture of generativity. Her concern for the next generation is very apparent in her writing as she tries to preserve historical evidence and present it to children through her fictional writing. She is obviously aware of the many ways in which she has been blessed and very sensitive to the wants and needs of her husband who now genuinely needs her support. She has reached old age and faces death with a sense of integrity; her faith has lead her through a satisfying and meaningful life. Although she realizes that she is reaching the end, she is celebrating the many gifts life has presented her with and is satisfied with what she has been able to offer to others. The respect that I have for my grandmother is continually increasing, I do not know if I will ever be able to put into words how much of an idol she has served as for me in how I have shaped and the courses I have chosen in life. She has taught me the importance of a strong sense of self, how to value close friendships. She has shown me the wonderful support system and overall warmth family brings to ones life. Her amazing faith, which guided her through hardships and times of joy, showed me the importance of self-transcendence and the relationship I would someday like to build with God. Her steadfast and strong relationship with my grandfather has re-emphasized the importance of finding a true life partner and developing a relationship where conflict can be overcome. In her telling me about the social development and self-discovery she achieved in college I realize the importance of maximizing my college career and truly finding what I am passionate about as early in my life as I can. My father is a wonderful parent and I see how having children and watching them raise their own children can become the most rewarding experience in a persons life. I have inherited my passion for writing from my grandmother and I hope that someday I will be as skilled at using words to paint a picture is she is. The chapters of my grandmothers life have enlightened me greatly, as a quote from Anton Chekhov suggests her writing inspires me to do the same, Dont tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.

History of Online Social Networking in Saudi Arabia

History of Online Social Networking in Saudi Arabia Literature review History of online social networking The history and development of the online social networking is closely interconnected with the development of the internet. The internet, which developed in the early 1990s enabled people to share and access information from a variety of sources. The e-mail enabled communication between people who may be thousands of miles apart.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on History of Online Social Networking in Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the development of the current online social networking can be traced back to the development of the Bulletin Board services (BBS). This system enabled the users to download and share information with other users. However, the limitation of this system was that the users needed to be connected to the central system via a cord and a modem was used to access the information. The setback of this system was th at it could only transmit text messages. Another limitation of this system was the fact that it was slow and transmission of messages used to take a long time (Nickson part 2). During the same period, another communication system known as Compuserve was also in operation. However, this system was different from BSS in that it allowed the users to communicate in real time with other users via a forum (Nickson part 2). Another system known as America online (AON) also used to provide services during this period. However, its services were much more advanced that the other two and resembled to the services, which are now provided by internet. The services provided by the AON led to the development of the modern online social networking (Nickson part 2). Classmates.com can be considered as the earliest online social networking site according to the features, which are found in the modern online social networking sites. It developed soon after the development of the modern day internet. It enabled the users to be virtually reunited with the people who they schooled with. However, the main limitation of this site was that it allowed connection only between people who schooled together. The system could not enable virtual communication of the other people (Nickson part 3). After the launch of Classmates.com many other social networking sites have been developed. These online social networking sites offer different features, which are convenient to their users. Some of the online social networking sites, which were developed during the beginning of the social networking, have survived up to date whereas others have collapsed due to various reasons.Advertising Looking for research paper on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An important observation is that the emergence of new online social networking site and user-friendly features has led to the decline of the users of the social networking sites or eventual collapse. The popularity of most of the online social networking sites is restricted to specific areas. The number of users of the social networking sites is usually small in other areas. Currently, the online social networking site, which has the most users, is Facebook. This site has a considerable large number of users in most parts the world. Others, which also have considerably large number of users include, Myspace and Twitter. However, the polarity of the former is usually localized in specific areas. For example Myspace is has largest social networking site in the US but it is relatively unknown in other parts of the world (Nickson part 3). There are also other social networking sites, which are usually formed in specific areas. Due to their feature, they promote usage by people with a specific culture or usage by people in a specific locality. The area in which the online social network usage may relevant may range from an institution to a specific region. The feat ures offered by various online social network services are usually varied. However, most of the features are mainly concerned with entertainment of the users of the online social networks. Types of Online social network in Saudi Arabia Online social networking in Saudi Arabia developed due to the increased use of the internet among the citizens. The Saudi Arabian community is mainly Muslim and very conservative. Different online social networks are available in Saudi Arabia. Some of the online social networks are based locally (in Saudi Arabia) whereas there are some, which are mainly for the Arab community of the region. There is also a huge presence of the international social networking sites in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi, being an Islamic society has also developed various online social networks, which mainly conform to their cultural and religious beliefs. To achieve this Saudi also have online social networks, which are restrict the use by only members of a certain gender (either male or female). This is a unique feature of online social networks, which can only be found in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic based countries. The main social networks found in Saudi Arabia and command a large following are discussed below.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on History of Online Social Networking in Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Facebook – This social networking site was initially used by the Harvard university students. However, this site was later opened to members of the public and is currently the largest social networking site in the world (Nations Para 4). LinkedIn – this is an online social networking site primarily set up for businesspersons and professionals. This online social networking site is among the largest in the world. This online social network site allows the users to connect with other users of the same professional. The site also provides a se ction where the users can browse jobs or business opportunities. This online social site is highly preferred by the businesspersons and professionals (nations Para 10). American bedu – This is a blogging site set up in 2006 by Carol Fleming, an American woman married to a Saudi husband. The blog concentrates mainly on Saudi issues (The Story of an American Bedu – Carol Fleming 2010). MSN messenger – this is an international blogging site, which is mainly preferred by Saudis due to its secrecy, and the one cannot view the information on other people. Saudi woman – this is a social network site, which is mainly concerned with the issues of the Saudi and mostly women. A person places his blog and anyone can respond to the blog. Jeeran – this is a blogging site for the Arabs. It touches all the issues of the Arab countries. Arab twitter – this is a version of twitter which is an international online networking which is modified to Arabic interfa ce. The Arabic interface was developed so as to accommodate the perception of the Arabic society. However, the content of the social networking site is similar to the content found in all the other online social network sites in all over the world.Advertising Looking for research paper on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Friendster – this is an international social networking site. It allows the users to interact in various ways. It also allows the users to play a variety of games online and download a variety of music online. This site mainly concentrates on the entertainment aspect of social networking. There are also other online social network sites, which can be found in Saudi Arabia. However, these sites have limited popularity. The most popular social networking site in the Saudi Arabia is Facebook. As at April 2010, the number of people who use Facebook to chat had exceeded two million users. This therefore implies that Saudi Arabia is the second largest country in terms of usage of the social networking site in the Arab world. The respondents also indicated that they belonged to different social networking sites. The average number of OSNs, which the respondents belonged to, was two, with the other common OSNs being Twitter and Friendster. However, even though they belonged to differ ent social networks most of the respondents mainly used Facebook and the use of the other social network sites was restricted only for specific purposes. Some of the people usually visit the other social networking sites mainly to check on the latest news and blogs. Factors that influence people to join the social networks Factors that influence the Saudis to join the online social networks are usually varied. Most of the middle aged and schooling Saudis join into the online social mainly to catch up with their friends. This group will join the social network sites due to peer influence, as social networking is the â€Å"cool† thing of the moment among the age group. Some of the people also join the social networking sites so as to be able to communicate with their relatives who may be far away. The youth who are working use the online social networks for business or work related purposes. The women mainly join the social networking sites so as to remove boredom during the da y and chat with their friends. The culture of Saudi Arabia is very strict concerning the relationships between men and women. The young men and women are not allowed to freely mix with the women anywhere, where in the streets or even in some learning institutions. The urge of the young men and women to meet and make friendships with people of the opposite sex is the main reason why most people are involved in the social networking sites. Here the young men and women can freely chat and make friendships without the strict supervision of the members of the society and the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice police. Some of the young people in Saudi Arabia also join the social networks to help remove their boredom (Sterns Para 2). Usage trends of OSNs among the Saudis Most Saudis who are involved in the social network are mainly use the internet to read news and use the social networking sites to comment on the news (Social Media Habits in Saudi Arabia 2010). Among the people wh o mostly comment on the online social networks are women. The women even have their own online social networks, which are restricted to men. The young people are also highly involved in the online social networks. They usually use the online social networks to create friendships and improve on the existing ones. The main reason that makes some of the people not to comment on the social network sites is due to the government monitoring of the activities of the social networking sites. Saudi perception of the benefits of online social networks The Saudis perceptions of the importance of the social networking sites are that it helps remove their boredom. This is the perception of most women who get into the social networking sites. There are some organizations, which believe that they can use the online social networks to undertake their businesses, as it would in the long run be beneficial to them. Some organizations have even created profiles of their businesses in the social network ing sites. These organizations use the social networking sites to communicate with their clients and employees (Shahid Para 4). The Saudis also use the social network sites to socialize with the people of the opposite sex. Through the social networking sites, the Saudis intend on getting good husbands and wives (Sterns Para 19). This would otherwise have been impossible due to the strict nature of the Saudi society concerning the intermingling of the people of the opposite sex. Lack of means of socialization makes most of the marriages in Saudi Arabia to be arranged by the relatives. Factors considered when joining specific online social networks The culture of Saudi Arabia prohibits women from freely intermingling with the men. This has led to the development of various online social networks that are made for women, discussing mainly women issues. The women are generally very actively involved in the discussions of the various issues posted on the online social sites. The young wo rking Saudi men also join the online social networks to create connections with other professional who are in their field of operation. The online networking site, which the young men mainly join, is LinkIn. Through this site, the men help in advancing their careers and create connections, which are very vital for their professional and career advancement. Saudis also consider the privacy of the information posted on the various online social network sites when joining the sites. The lack of privacy of the information, which is posted on Facebook, makes some of the Saudi to use the MSN messenger to chat with other people due to the privacy of the social networking site (Social Media Habits in Saudi Arabia 2010). The main reason for some of the Saudi to consider the privacy of the information is due to the strict government regulation of the content of the social networking sites. The society also regulates what the people view so that it may be offensive to the Islamic culture of th e country. Most of the people mentioned above join the specific networks to obtain certain information. However, they retain their membership in the various other online social networks that they actively participate. In the case of Saudi Arabia the main online social network, that different members belong to is Facebook. Attitudes toward OSNs Most of the younger generations have no objection to the use of the social networking sites. They actively participate in the online social networks and keep in touch with their friends using the online social networks. However, some of the people of the older generation strongly object to the use of the social network sites. This is because Saudi Arabia is a strict society where the actions of people are closely monitored. However, the people of the older generation cannot be able to monitor the action of people on the social networking sites. The parents cannot be able to monitor who their children are chatting or communicating with on the s ocial networking sites. This makes some of the parents to strictly prohibit the use of some of the social networking sites and sometimes even use violence on the kids to prohibit them. A good example of the violence is the case where a parent killed his daughter due to chatting on Facebook. Some members of the society are of the view that the social networking sites are immoral according to Islam. This is because most of the online social network sites allow the free integration of the men and women in the sites. This is immoral since Islam prohibits the free integration of the men and women in social activities. This has made some people develop online social networks, which are specifically designed for use by only a certain gender. Most of these online social networks, which are gender based, are mainly designed for use by the women. The government also considers some of the online social networks to be against the social norm of the society. Therefore, the government closely mon itors the activities of the social networking sites and may even ban the sites, which it thinks are going contrary to the culture and religion of the country. The government even banned the social network site Facebook claiming that it conveyed information that was against the culture of the Saudi Arabia society. Some employers do not encourage the use of the social networking sites as they reduce the productivity of the employees as the employees spend most of their time on the OSNs thereby robbing off the organization the time that the employees would have used to work (Olzak Para 5). Demographic factors of the usage of the OSNs For this part, we will use the details of the use of Facebook, the largest social networking site in Saudi Arabia. The information on the use of the other social networking sites is somehow biased as the sites are mainly used by people of a specific age and the people subscribe to the membership of these online social network sites in order to obtain diffe rent information. However, even these people are members of the other online social network sites most of them have in addition to the sites subscribed to membership of Facebook, the largest online social network site in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, for the study of the demographic factors of the usage of online social networks we will use the data on Facebook as it is used by all the people of Saudi Arabia with the other social networking sites forming a small fraction of the usage of the online social networks. Chart 1.1 use of Facebook according to age Usage of Facebook according to age Source: jazarah.net. Among the users, roughly 53 percent of the users are aged 19-29 years old. Most of the people in this age bracket are either in college or they have just started working. The people in this age bracket also use Facebook to make friendship with the people of the opposite sex, as Facebook does not restrict its usage to members of only a certain gender. Twenty-five percent of the use rs of Facebook are between the age group of 30-45 years. This group comprises of mainly married people and most of them are parents. In this group, most of the people engage in Facebook to do activities that are mainly related to their kind of jobs. Most of the women who are in this group and are engaged in Facebook are mostly there to chat with other women to reduce the boredom. Seventeen percent of the users of Facebook are aged 18 years and below. These users are engaged in the social networking site mainly to make friends and for entertainment. Most of the people in this group engage in online social networking sites, as it is fashionable and due to peer influence. This group is usually very active in producing content in the social networking sites. However, an important factor to note is that most of the members of Facebook who fall under this age group do not use their real name so to protect themselves from parents who may be predatory. Only 4 percent of the users of Faceboo k are in the age group of between 46 and 64. Very few people are involved in the social network site as the older generation generally regards the social networking site lowly. The people of this age group who engage in the online social network do this either due to the nature of their work. However the people who are aged 65 and above do use the online social networks as they generally do not use technology. These people are very conservative and usually take a long tome to embrace advancement in information technology. Chart 1.2: Usage of Facebook according to gender Source: jazarah.net Basically, 66 percent of the users of Facebook are male, 32 percent are female, and the rest are not defined. There are more male users compared to female, as the females are generally restricted to use the online social networking sites. The females also have various online social networks, which are specifically designed for use by the women. The Saudi women are also not very outspoken and hence would not join the online social networks. Relationship status of users of Facebook Most of the users of Facebook do not define their relationship status (69 %). 19 % of the users show state that they are single. 8 % state they are married. Chart 1.3: The relationship status of the users of Facebook according to their profile information Source: jazarah.net Most of the users do not state their relation status so as to maintain their privacy. This is because the information posted causing their relationship status may be used against them by their seniors or the government. An example is when a girl states that she is in a relationship, the parent sees the information, and he has not consented to any relationship by the girl. Some of the people also do not define their relationship status so as to make friends and associate with other users freely e.g. a man would not like to be involved in chatting with a woman who is engaged or married since it is against the norms of the society. The reverse is also true for girls engaging with men in the online social networks. Risks associated with the use of the online social networks The use of the online social networks has many risks. However most of the people continue to use the online social networks some oblivious of the risks whereas others do not know the risks involved in the use of the online social networks. The government regulates and monitors the content that is found in the social networking sites. The government may prosecute and jail some users if they are found to have comments, which are against the culture and religion of the people of the country. The parents also monitor the content of their children in the social networking sites. They mainly try to protect them from socializing freely with the people of the opposite sex as it is against Islam. If the parents find the children chatting with people of the opposite sex they may result to severe punishment as was the case when a Saudi girl was killed by her father due to chatting with a boy. This has made most of the girls to drop their last names in the profiles of their online social networking sites. Most of the girls do not also put their real pictures on their profiles. This prevents other people from determining the identity of the girls. The information shared on the social networking sites is also not secure and may be used by different people against the users of the social networks. The use of online social networks also poses great risks to organizations that use the social networks to conduct its businesses. The social networks are prone to attack by various viruses that may access the information of the companies using the online social network. This is because most of the online social networks do not integrated security systems to protect the users and the information, which is found in the users’ computers. .The employees of different companies can also use the information posted by their employees concer ning different issues against the employees (Harpe p 5). This is because the information posted on the social networking sites is not private. The employees may use the information that may be sensitive as a basis for even sacking of the employees. The employees also use the information on the profile or the postings of the people when they are hiring new employees. Therefore, the postings of certain people may deny them the opportunity to get employment. The postings of other people who are associated with another person may also make the former get into trouble if the person posts information, which some people regard as not conforming to the culture of the society. Conclusion Online social networking is a very common phenomenon throughout the world. The activity usually has many advantages and disadvantages. The society of Saudi Arabia should embrace the activity as it has the potential to help in various areas of the society. During the research, a common phenomenon that I came across is the close monitoring of the activities of the social networking sites. This monitoring prohibits development, responsibility, and the general well being of the society and it should therefore be minimized. Harpe, Lisa D. Social networks and employment. 2009. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:dQV7DZS6PScJ:www.iowaabi.org/documents/filelibrary/events/social_media/Social_Networks_Employment_Law_eBoo_C3A386C1048E1.pdf+employers+using+social+netwoks+to+deny+employmenthl=engl=kepid=blsrcid=ADGEESiiyczmq4qSM6V_TQX8OxVBaFiP7wR-qph6rI6b3VmhGXSVyTt4JG16vKPid86X5kolbzlrG7l723B1yrJR2Z8jIUsQN9Gaa7tc0n3xFKcGMY-lQE99FoBQ-uPB_DltS4eGCH9Asig=AHIEtbS4s02y6cgdGSznjy73CuBXAqTBGw. Nations, Daniel. The Top Social Networking  Sites. 2010. http://webtrends.about.com/od/socialnetworking/a/social_network.htm Nickson, Christopher, The History of Social Networking, digital trends. 2009. digitaltrends.com/features/the-history-of-social-networking/. Olzak, Tom. Social networking risk: Managi ng the inevitable IT security. 2009. http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=730. Shahid, Amber. â€Å"Facebook will operate as usual.† Arab news.com. 2010 http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article190596.ece â€Å"Social Media Habits in Saudi.† Arabiadigital media across Asia. 2010. http://comm215.wetpaint.com/page/Social+Media+Habits+in+Saudi+Arabia. Sterns, Olivia. Young Saudis bypass social lockdown with Facebook. 2010. cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/30/saudi.social.networking.sex/index.html?iref=allsearch. â€Å"The Story of an American Bedu – Carol Fleming.† Saudi-US Relations Information Service. 2010. susris.com/2010/08/10/the-story-of-an-american-bedu-carol-fleming/

Discuss the current status of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) in Research Paper - 1

Discuss the current status of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) in the United States. What still must be accomplished to make the EHR a reality - Research Paper Example ividual and an individual is able to get involved in the process of agenda setting when one of the processes of cognition known as accessibility becomes active. This means that the higher the frequency of media covering particular subject, the higher will be the rate at which the subject will become accessible in the memories of the audience. Three different kinds of agenda setting methods have been realized by Rogers, the first kind is public agenda setting (Kaid, 2004, p.258). In the subject that is more important to the public is given great importance. The second kind is denoted as media agenda setting, in this kind the topic that is important to media is given great importance and lastly the third kind is policy agenda setting. In the last kind, the topics that are important to the people who make policies is hotly debated and given importance. This concept came into being under during the election for the position of president during the period of 1968 and the concept was coine d by Shaw and McCombs (Kaid, 2004,

How has the financial crisis of 2008 affected the real estate market Essay

How has the financial crisis of 2008 affected the real estate market in Dubai - Essay Example The recent global financial crisis affected nearly every major developed economy.   While there were numerous causes precipitating this near economic collapse, the reality is that it may take a decade of more for many sectors to recover.   One of the areas hardest hit globally is the housing sector.   In most locations, there was a tremendous drop in housing and property prices.   A glut of supply hit the market almost instantly; at the same time the access to credit became severely restricted.   In many respects, even though the economy is slowly recovering, the residual effects of economic downturn are still being felt, particularly in its impact on housing prices and the tightening of lending guidelines.   These topics form the basis for this study as we look at one of the areas in the Middle East, Dubai, which was particularly hard hit by the global financial crisis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the economic conditions, particularly in terms o f the real estate market, present in Dubai during and subsequent to the global economic crisis of 2008.   This focus was on an analysis of these economic conditions on the real estate market, how the market was affected by the crisis, and how it is expected to recover and perform in the future.   The following research question guided this process: How as the real estate market in Dubai affected by the financial crisis, and how did the market recover in subsequent years?

Pilgrim Tourism To Holy Places

Pilgrim Tourism To Holy Places Tourism is the temporary, short-term movement of people to destination outside the places where they normally live and work and their activities during the stay at each destination. It includes movements for all purposes (1976, Tourism Society of England,1976) . Tourism has been described in various ways but may be thought of as the connection and experience arising out of the journeys and temporary stay of people travelling primarily for leisure and recreational purpose. Tourism is thus a multifaceted activity and geographically complex one as different services are sought and supplied at different stages from the origin to the destination. Tourism has emerged as one of the most important instruments to boost economic development in many of the countries across the globe as an engine for economic development, the earnings of foreign exchange, its contribution creation of employment. India has diverse culture and heritage in the North, it has the great Himalayas which gives tremendous opportunities for mountain tourism or adventure tourism. It provides great challenges and difficulties to mountaineers. In the Southern part of the country there is Indian Ocean which gives opportunities to beach tourism and attract large number of foreign and domestic tourists. In the North West there is Thar Desert with Aravalis mountains range. It is highly suitable for desert tourism and heritage tourism. In this way India have very rich natural resources like geographical and cultural diversity, forests, lakes, mountains, rivers and rivulets, sacred shrines, historic monuments and hospitable people, which are necessary for thriving tourism activity (Singh, 2002). Pilgrims with pilgrimage tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism in the world. Not only has it become an important component of the Indian life style (Adrian Ivakhiv, 2003 ) but it has had a profound impact on other peoples of the world and the environments in which they live. Pilgrim tourism to holy places (tirtha-yatra) is an ancient and continuing religious tradition of the Culture of Hindus. Here religion, as a cultural dimension, assumes the vital role and central focus of tourism in which the tourists (pilgrims) from all strata of the Hindus participate. In pilgrim tourism, the dimension of religion forms the basis of tourism of pilgrimage by offering the reward of purification of the soul and attainment of objectives related to the problems of routine life. Hindus from time immemorial were attracted to their numerous holy sites spread throughout India. Pilgrimage is thus a pan-human and pan Indian phenomenon, the meaning of which within the traditional structure of each religion, if not, within castes and communities. According to Skandapurana (a religious treatise), truth, forgiveness, control of senses, kindness to all living beings and simplicity is tirtha. Thus, tirtha yatra not only means physically visiting the holy places but implies mental a nd moral discipline as well. It has rightly said that following the Vedic period, the practice of religious tourism or pilgrimage seems to have gained increased popularity as evident from the great epic Mahabharata (Bhardwaj 1973: 5). The number of pilgrimage sites in India is extremely large but some primary pilgrimage sites include the four Dhams, the Seven Sacred cities and their primary temples, Ashtvinayakas, twelve Jyotirlings, Svaymbhu and Pancha Bhutta linga Temples, the Shakti Pithas, the Kumbha Mela sites, major Vaishnava sites, the Nava Graham Sthalas, the Seven Sacred Rivers, the four Muths of Sri Adi Sankaracharya, the Arupadaividu, Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliva, Jama Masjid, Dargah of Muinuddin Chishti, Hazrathbal Mosque, Haji Ali Mausoleum, Church of St. Catejan, Church of the Sacred Heart, Patna Sahib, Sachkhand Sahib, Hemkund Sahib, Little Mount and certain other places that do not fit into any of the categories listed here. In India all temples, Gurudwaras, Mosques and Churches are considered sacred places. As is evident from the list these sites are not related with one religion only and therefore, they attract people of different religions for pilgrimage. Further, many of such places are visited by pilgrims of various religions. It is worth mentioning that Uttarakhand has many important religious places which are quite popular at national level. Some of these places are well known at the international level as well. A brief description of of such places has been given as Haridwar, Rishikesh and Neelkanth in Uttaranchal. Tourism in Uttarakhand Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000, which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. It occupies an area of 51,125 sq km and a population of about __________ (__________ per sq km).The entire region is geographically important and is comprised of the two distinct parts i.e. eastern part (known as Kumaon) and western part (known as Garhwal). Uttarakhand is surrounded by a number of states like Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and country like Nepal. Uttarakhand give a distinct sense of tourism practices such as, Adventure tourism activities, leisure activities, wild life national parks and eco tourism activities etc. It is also a home of several religious places belonging to the Hindus and the Sikhs like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Lokpal and Hemkundsahib. To promote tourism Uttar Pradesh Parvatiya Vikas Nigam was established on 30th March 1971, with authorized capital of Rs. 2 crore, under Companies Act 1956. The main objective of this government body was the development of seven hilly districts i.e. Haridwar, Dehradun, Tihri, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Chamouli and Rudraprayag. After this on 31st March 1976, two more Government companies i.e. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam were established for the development of these regions. The main objectives of these apex bodies in the context of tourism were to work in the area of tourism development and provide basic tourism infrastructure facilities, to promote tourism, a state tourism policy was formulated in 2002 in which emphasis was given on three things i.e. development of eco-friendly tourism with the help of both the public and private sectors and local communities, promote tourism as a source of economic growth by employment and revenue generation, develop Uttarakhand as a leading tourist destination and place Uttarakhand on the tourist map. To promote the pace of tourism a Board named Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board was also established in 2002. This board is the supreme institute which gives suggestions to the government related to all tourism matters. Along with tourism this board also works as a regulatory and licensing authority. It has a negative impact on environment too. Degradation of forestland in and around the tourist places and garbage problems due to booming up of tea stalls and shops and as well as mass tourism are the major environmental problems. All above facts relating to the Uttarakhand reveal that the state government view tourism as a source of economic development and employment generation. They have shown their interest in infrastructure development on public-private participation. Further, efforts have been made to keep environmental aspects into consideration while developing tourism. If these steps implemented properly can lead to tourism growth in the above states. The presentation is written for tourism industry analysts and public officials, who would like to better understand, evaluate, or possibly reduce the negative impact of tourism in Uttarakhand. Haridwar Haridwar is regarded as most sacred destination among Hindu pilgrimages. A staggering number of pilgrims visited Haridwar every year. Haridwar is also a historic and cultural destination, older than many other ancient towns in the world, and is deeply rooted in the history and development of Hinduism and Indian culture from its earliest days. Haridwar meaning à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Gateway to Godà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚  is one of the seven holiest places of the Hindus, located on the banks of River Ganges. With Ujjain, Nasik and Allahabad, Haridwar forms the four important pilgrimage centers of India where Kumbh Mela is celebrated after every 3 years rotated over these 4 destinations. Har-ki-Pauri is the most holy place where thousands of devotees take a dip. Haridwar is located around 200 km north east of Delhi and 54 km south of Dehradun and is probably the most important gateway to Uttarakhand by rail and road. It would also be justifiable to describe it as one of the most important à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"pilgrimage tourismà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚  destinations in India.

Government and Politics - No Peace for the Middle East Essay -- Argume

No Peace for the Middle East Since its inception the State of Israel has been at war with the Arab countries surrounding it. Dating back to biblical times when the Israelites left Egypt after two hundred years of bondage there, they began forty years of wandering the desert in which they encountered many enemy tribes such as their sworn enemies, the Amalekites. Thousands of years later, the Arabs and Israelis are still fighting. The State of Israel began with the War for Israeli Independence in 1948. Israel has kept on fighting ever since. Over the lengthy span of time in which Israel has been at war with the Arabs, the people of Israel and the Palestinians have developed a deeply rooted hatred for one another. Terrorism has been another factor which has contributed to this loathing. On top of all this, is the cultural and religious clash which the two populations experience. However, in the past twenty years, Israel and the Arab countries surrounding it have begun taking the first few strides toward peace. The meeting of Menachim Begin and Anwar el-Sadat created the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979. This marked the beginning of the never ending struggle for peace. Despite the overwhelming political endeavor for peace, the people of Israel will never fully achieve a peaceful coexistence with their Arab neighbors, due to the dark history between the nations and the years of hatred which have transpired. In recent years, the Middle East has made serious advances toward peace. Menachim Begin and Anwar el- Sadat formulated and signed the historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979. It took immense preparation and the active participation of many of both countries?highest ranking officials and leaders to ... ...t with it many positive changes in the Middle East. In spite of what appear to be insurmountable obstacles, one can only hope for continued progress in the direction of peace and the best possible future for the Middle East. Works Cited 1. Weizman, Ezer. The Battle for Peace. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. 2. Gervasi, Frank. Thunder Over the Mediterranean. New York: David McKay Co., Inc.,1975. 3. Lustick, Ian. Arabs in the Jewish State. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1980. 4. â€Å"Middle East.?Microsoft Encarta. 1995 ed. 5. Friedman, Thomas L. From Beirut to Jerusalem. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1989. 6. Chafetz, Ze’ev. Double Vision. New York: William Morrow and Company Inc.,1985. 7. â€Å"Kol Israel News Broadcast.?http://www.artificia.com/ (January 17,1997) 8. â€Å"Daily News from Israel?http://www.iclick.com/news (January 21,1997)

Feast of the dead by Cevdet Kudret Essay

It was January when the world seemed grimmer, streets empty, people went out only for work. A boy who had been to the fountain told to the man he saw that Dursun Agha is dead. Dursun Agha is the one who calls at the street asking if someone needs water, one trip, two trips, three trips and someone would call back, one trip means two cans of water that costs three Kurush. Dursun is asturdy man with a round black beard, has 2 children and a wife named Gulnaz, she help Dursan when someone would call her to wash clothes that only happens twice or thrice a week and earn few more three kurush. The caused of Dursun’s death was he had hit his head on the stone bowl under the tap when he slipped. No one ever thought that a tough and durable man could die just like that all of a sudden. Gulnaz heard the news and didn’t know what to do with her children, she didn’t know how she can feed two mouths by washing clothes. It wasn’t enough. No one eat for 36-48 hours until someone feel the hunger inside their stomach. As a Moslem tradition, when someone died the neighbor will give food to the family who’s in grief for a day or two. The first who gave food was from a wealthy man who lived in the white house the tray of food was brought by the maid it was covered in a cloth. No one actually thought of eating that day but when they saw the food it gives them relaxation of feelings. The foods came and it lasted for three of four days. The food stopped coming but they were still hoping until suppertime and they realize that no one will give them food anymore. They cook food and they found it hard to readjust because they get used to the foods that was given by the neighbors until the day came that they have nothing to eat at all.The children and Gulnaz slept with empty stomach. The next day the young boy told to Gulnaz that it hurts inside, but she can’t do anything, they all felt dizzy and hungry. Days passed by until a horse full of bread on its side. Instead of asking for a loaf of bread, Gulnaz froze and didn’t say anything, she just let God’s blessing pass by. She went back to her room empty handed. When her son told her that she can’t stand anymore, he ask his eldest son to go to the grocery store and asked if he could asked some food to the grocery store and tell them they would pay it in a few days. But the trick didn’t work to Bodos so the child left the with empty handed.